Watch how to sign ‘skill’ in American Sign Language
Whether newly disabled or a person, who is aging with a disability, use of adaptive skills, access to resources, and support from peers is essential to sustained well-being. DMC helps people with disabilities and older adults learn how to take care of themselves and become more independent.
Who Is Eligible?
Any individual living with a disability or classified as an older adult in Orange County can qualify for services at DMC.
Referral Process
Potential consumers learn about independent living skills training through the Dayle McIntosh Center from other organizations, friends and family, word-of-mouth, social media, and outreach events.
Currently, we provide ILS directly through our Deaf, Blind/Low Vision, and Youth Services.
For other ILS needs that fall outside current services/programming, individuals can utilize the ILS Resources list found by selecting the green button below.
Basic Independent Living Skills Topics
Peer Support: Looking at how feelings, thoughts, and beliefs can affect goals. It means understanding strengths and areas to improve. The aim is to develop a sense of pride and self-worth.
Self-advocacy: Learning skills like decision-making, problem-solving, evaluating risks and outcomes, and finding support when necessary.
Time and Task management: Learning to organize tasks efficiently, setting priorities, estimating time for each task, avoiding overload, breaking tasks into smaller steps, setting realistic daily goals, practicing patience, and finding personalized strategies for success. It’s all about being practical and effective.
Daily Living Skills: Performing housekeeping tasks, doing laundry, shopping, preparing simple meals, arranging transportation, following safety procedures.
Social Skills: Interacting with others, using effective communication, engaging in the community.
Money Management: Making and following a budget, using banking services, understanding how credit works, paying bills online.
Computer Skills: Combining an Independent Living Skill with technology, such as
- Learning basics of email for future services and to keep in touch with people
- Learning how to organize digital files
- Learning basics of calendar, note taking, and/or task managers to help with time and task management
Program Success Stories
Communication Leads to Connection
A person seeking help from the ILS program initially wanted to improve their communication skills. They lived with their brother and wife but wished to move out due to personality clashes. Dissatisfaction with their job stemmed partially from communication problems with colleagues. The ILS Instructor and the person collaborated on enhancing communication abilities, expressing ideas and emotions effectively, setting boundaries with family and coworkers, and making work more engaging, like turning tasks into self-made games. They also explored ways to connect with the community and make friends. Eventually, the person found a job they liked in another state, saved up, and moved out with a roommate. They appeared enthusiastic about this new phase of life and achieved greater independence through the ILS program.
Consumer Achieves Independence Breakthrough
The ILS Instructor provided four hours of direct service to a 27-year-old female consumer with an anxiety disorder. The consumer has been working on improving her ability to manage appointments and conduct errands independently.
With guidance from the ILS Instructor, she successfully implemented a weekly planner system and structured daily routine. Notably, the consumer used OCTA Access independently for the first time to travel to a local grocery store. She described feeling “nervous but proud” and reported increased confidence in taking further steps toward independence, including setting a new goal to apply to local adult education classes.
Through continued encouragement, skill-building exercises, and access to community resources, the ILS Instructor will support the consumer in achieving measurable gains in self-sufficiency and community participation.
Financial Roadmap Improves Independence
The ILS Instructor worked with a consumer who has a mental and emotional disability on developing a budgeting goal.
Together, they created a personalized Excel spreadsheet designed to help the consumer track monthly expenses. The spreadsheet included sections for planned amounts as well as actual amounts spent, allowing the consumer to actively monitor and adjust spending habits.
Following this session, the consumer reported successfully using the tool to track expenses throughout the month and was able to remain within budget. This progress reflects the consumer’s growing independence and ability to implement practical strategies for financial management.
- Consumer Question: What is ILS?
DMC Program Answer: ILS stands for independent living skills and DMC staff will come alongside you in a one-to-one setting to learn skills which will help you gain greater independence in your everyday life. ILS training topics include budgeting and money management, adaptive techniques and technology, communication, self-advocacy, community navigation, organization, and other skills that help you live more independently.
- Consumer Question: Do I have to be part of Regional Center or Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) to qualify?
DMC Program Answer: No, to be eligible to receive ILS services you must only be a person with a disability or older adult and live in Orange County, CA. Your enrollment in other programs or services does not impact your enrollment in DMC’s ILS Program.
- Consumer Question: What time are classes held?
DMC Program Answer: The program is tailored around your specific goals and staffing availability, so you will coordinate with the ILS Instructor to set a schedule.
- Consumer Question: What if I’m not sure of what skills I’d like to learn or where to start?
DMC Program Answer: That’s okay! If you’re not sure where to start, we can complete a short questionnaire together which will help identify barriers to independence and where you may want more support. From there, we work together to create goals based on what matters most to you.
For more information about the ILS services call 714.621.3300 or complete the online form.
